The Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD) revealed a significant drop in plastic bag consumption, with 364 million fewer bags used since the emirate implemented a ban on single-use plastics over two years ago. Additionally, more than 130 million plastic bottles have been recovered during this period.
“This is equivalent to 2,400 tonnes of plastic, or 547,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases—comparable to taking 130,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the road for a year,” the EAD stated.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, highlighted the shift in consumer habits. “Before the policy, shoppers used three bags per trip. Now, they use just 0.4 bags. This has also resulted in a 2,000 percent rise in reusable bags, from 603 in 2022 to 26,075 in 2023 at one major outlet,” she said.
A recent survey showed strong public support for the initiative, with 84 percent of respondents aware of the policy and 82 percent reporting its positive impact, such as cleaner beaches and waterways.
The EAD projects that by the end of 2024, more than 400 million single-use plastic bags will have been eliminated, with 121.5 million already cut in the past nine months alone. The agency also aims to collect 90 million single-use plastic bottles this year.
Since June 1, a ban on certain Styrofoam products has seen 97 percent compliance among retailers. This initiative serves as a precursor to a Federal ban on targeted Styrofoam and plastic products set to take effect in 2026.
